
REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 3
CONTENTS
The fastest way to find information on a particu-
lar topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page160.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
6Reporting safety defects
AT A GLANCE
10Cockpit
CONTROLS
20Opening and closing
37Adjustments
43Transporting children safely
46Driving
55Controls overview
64Technology for driving comfort and safety
75Lamps
80Climate
85Practical interior accessories
DRIVING TIPS
92Things to remember when driving
MOBILITY
102Refueling
104Wheels and tires
116Under the bonnet
119Maintenance
121Care
125Replacing components
136Giving and receiving assistance
140Indicator and warning lamps
REFERENCE
154Technical data
160From A to Z 

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 5
For your safety
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of 
modern materials and powerful electron-
ics, requires specially adapted maintenance and 
repair methods. Therefore, have the necessary 
work on your MINI only carried out by a MINI 
dealer or a workshop that has specially trained 
personnel working in accordance with the spec-
ifications of the MINI manufacturer. If this work 
is not carried out properly, there is a danger 
of subsequent damage and related safety 
hazards.<
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts 
and accessories approved by the manu-
facturer of the MINI.
When you purchase accessories tested and 
approved by the manufacturer of the MINI and 
Original MINI Parts, you simultaneously acquire 
the assurance that they have been thoroughly 
tested by the manufacturer of the MINI to 
ensure optimum performance when installed on 
your vehicle.
The manufacturer of the MINI warrants these 
parts to be free from defects in material and 
workmanship.
The manufacturer of the MINI will not accept any 
liability for damage resulting from installation of 
parts and accessories not approved by the man-
ufacturer of the MINI.
The manufacturer of the MINI cannot test every 
product made by other manufacturers to verify 
i f  i t  c a n  b e  u s e d  o n  a  M I N I  s a f e l y  a n d  w i t h o u t  r i s k  
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.
Original MINI Parts, MINI Accessories and other 
products approved by the manufacturer of the 
MINI, together with professional advice on using 
these items, are available from all MINI dealers.
Installation and operation of accessories that 
have not been approved by the manufacturer of 
your MINI, such as alarms, radios, amplifiers, 
radar detectors, wheels, suspension compo-nents, brake dust shields, telephones, including 
operation of any mobile phone from within the 
vehicle without using an externally mounted 
antenna, or transceiver equipment, for instance, 
CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or similar acces-
sories, may cause extensive damage to the vehi-
cle, compromise its safety, interfere with the 
vehicle's electrical system or affect the validity of 
the MINI Limited Warranty. See your MINI dealer 
for additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of 
the emission control devices and systems 
may be performed by any automotive repair 
establishment or individual using any certified 
automotive part.
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-
ductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories 
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your 
hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.< 

Cockpit
12
Displays
1Tachometer55
with indicator and warning lamps13
2Display for
>Clock55
>Outside temperature55
>Current vehicle speed55
>Indicator and warning lamps13
3Resetting the trip odometer554Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*48
>Computer
*56
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven60
>Odometer and trip odometer55
>Initializing the Flat Tire Monitor
*67
>Resetting the Tire Pressure Monitor
*69
>Settings and information58
>Personal Profile settings20
5Instrument lighting78
6Speedometer
with indicator and warning lamps13
7Fuel gauge56
8Radio display, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
9Radio, refer to separate Owner's Manual 

REFERENCE
AT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 13
Indicator and warning 
lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in var-
ious combinations and colors in indicator area 
1or2.
Some lamps are checked for proper functioning 
and thus come on briefly when the engine is 
started or the ignition is switched on.
What to do in case of a malfunction
A list of all indicator and warning lamps, as well 
as notes on possible causes of malfunctions and 
on how to respond, can be found starting on 
page140. 

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AT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 15
1MINI: Microphone for voice processing sys-
tem
* and for hands-free telephone*
MINI Convertible: Microphone in the steer-
ing column
2Indicator/warning lamp
* for front passen-
ger airbags73
4Hazard warning flashers
5Speedometer12
6Drive for audio CDs
7Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume
8Air conditioner or automatic climate 
control
*
9Switches in center console
10AUX-IN port, USB audio interface
*87
11Driving stability control systems
>Dynamic Stability Control DSC65
>Dynamic Traction Control
 DTC* 66
12Sport button
*67 3
Reading lamps
*79
Color of ambient lighting
*79
Glass sunroof, electric
*30
MINI Convertible: opening and clos-
ing the sliding/tilting roof32
Interior lamps78
Temperature, 83 81
Recirculated-air mode, 83 81
Air distribution for air 
conditioner82
Air distribution to the 
windshield
*83
Air distribution to the upper 
body area
*83
Air distribution to the footwell
*83
Automatic air distribution and 
flow rate
*83
Maximum cooling
*83
Cooling function, 84 81
Defrosting windows
*, 83 82
Rear window defroster, 83 81 
Windshield heating
*, 84 82
Air flow rate, 82 81
Seat heating
*40
Power windows31
MINI Convertible: central power 
window unit31
Rear fog lamp
*77
Fog lamps
*77
Central locking system, inside25 

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 21
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is being unlocked21
>Automatic locking of the vehicle25
>Triple turn signal activation50
>Settings for the displays in the speedometer 
and tachometer:
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to For-
mats and units of measure59
>Date format, refer to Formats and units 
of measure59
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, 
distance covered/remaining distances 
and temperature, refer to Formats and 
units of measure59
>Light settings:
>Pathway lighting75
>Daytime running lights76
>Automatic climate control
*: activating/
deactivating the AUTO program, setting the 
temperature, air volume and air 
distribution82
>Entertainment:
>Audio volume, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
>Speed-dependent volume, refer to sepa-
rate Owner's Manual
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for operation 
whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Tailgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the door 
handles on the driver's and passenger's 
sides.
The anti-theft system is also operated at the 
same time. It prevents the doors from being 
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. The remote control can also be used to 
switch on/off the welcome lamps and interior 
lamps. The alarm system
* is also activated or 
deactivated, page27.
Operating from inside
Button for central locking system, page25.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: 
from outside
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. Take 
the key with you when you leave the vehicle 
so that the vehicle can be opened from the 
outside.<
Using the remote control
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The welcome lamps and interior lamps come on.
Unlocking mode
You can also set which parts of the car are 
unlocked. The setting is stored for the remote 
control in use. 

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 23
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Releasing the 
button interrupts the closing process.<
Setting confirmation signals
To have the vehicle confirm when it has been 
locked or unlocked.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
2.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator 
lever repeatedly until "SET/INFO" is dis-
played.
3.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes.
4.Briefly press the button repeatedly until the 
symbol and "SET" are displayed.
5.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes.
6.Briefly press the button to select, arrow:
> Confirmation signal during unlocking
> Confirmation signal during locking7.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes.
8.Briefly press the button to select:
>
The hazard warning flashers light up dur-
ing unlocking/locking.
>
An acoustic signal sounds during unlock-
ing/locking.
>
The hazard warning flashers light up and 
an acoustic signal
* sounds during 
unlocking/locking.
>
The function is deactivated.
9.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes. The setting is stored.
Switching on interior lamps
While the car is locked:
Press the   button. 
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages, etc.
Unlocking the tailgate
Press the   button.
When it is opened, the tailgate swings 
upward and outward to the rear. Make 
sure that adequate clearance is available before 
opening.
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, do 
not place the key down in the cargo bay. If the 
tailgate was locked before opening, it will be 
locked again after it is closed.
Before and after each trip, check that the tail-
gate has not been inadvertently unlocked.< 

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 27
The handle recesses on the interior trim panel of 
the tailgate make it easier to pull it down.
Alarm system*
The concept
The alarm system, when activated, reacts if:
>A door, the engine compartment lid or the 
tailgate is opened
>There is movement inside the car
>The car's inclination changes, for instance if 
an attempt is made to jack it up and steal the 
wheels or to raise it prior to towing away
>There is an interruption in the power supply 
from the battery
The alarm system briefly indicates unauthorized 
entry or tampering by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
Arming and disarming
Whenever the car is locked or unlocked, the 
alarm system is armed or disarmed.
Even when the alarm system is armed, you can 
open the tailgate by means of the   button 
on the remote control.
When you subsequently close the tailgate it is 
again locked and monitored.
In certain market-specific versions, 
unlocking via the door lock triggers the 
alarm.<
Panic mode*
You can activate the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press the   button for at least two seconds.
Switching off the alarm: 
Press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control.
>Insert the key fully into the ignition lock.
>In cars with Comfort Access
*, press the but-
ton on the door lock.
Display on the revolution counter
When the system is armed, all LEDs pulse. After 
approx. 16 minutes one LED flashes.
>LEDs pulse or LED flashes: system is armed.
>One LED flashes at short intervals:
A door, the bonnet or the tailgate is not 
properly closed. Even if these are not closed 
fully, the remaining items are deadlocked 
and the LEDs pulse after approx. 10 seconds 
for approx. 16 minutes. Afterwards, one LED 
flashes.
The interior movement detector is not acti-
vated.
>LEDs go out after the vehicle is unlocked:
No attempt was made to tamper with 
the car.
>LEDs flash after unlocking until the key is 
inserted in the ignition, but for no longer 
than approx. 5 minutes: an attempt was 
made to tamper with the car.